Examples Of Dystopia In Fahrenheit 451

Books are a symbol of learning, imagination and knowledge. In 1933 the Nazis burned all the books in order to subdue the free thinking and, liberty of the citizens of germany. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury it displays a controlling, violent, and oppressive Dystopian, government similar to Germany.

The main character, Guy Montag, is a fireman, but his job is to start fires, not put them out. On a job Montag is supposed to start the fire “He flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black” (1) In this society, reading books, or even having them in possession is against the law. Firemen, like Montag find these people and burn the books they have. This is because

Where thinking and wondering about life is uncommon. While Montag is on his way to go find Faber, a quiet man who asked him about books years ago. He is on a train and a commercial keeps blaring, keeping him from thinking. “The train radio vomited upon Montag, in retaliation, a great ton load of music made out tin, copper, silver, chromium, and brass. the people were pounded into submission; they did not run, there was no place to run.”(79) Montag is trying to read the bible and memorize it so it will never be forgotten, but the commercial is so loud and disrupting that he cannot think for himself. This is purposely put in place by the government so that the citizens will not be able to think or wonder about life. This enforces that the controlling leaders will have absolute power and no retaliation. This is also shown with the “families” that each house has. At the front room of houses is a parlor where all four walls are television screens. Much like t.v. today there are programs that come on, but for Millie, Montags wife, and the other citizens, the virtual families are real to them. “‘My ‘family’ is real people. They tell me things: i laugh, they laugh! And the colors!’”(73) The technology runs their lives and they care about the virtual families more than their own. Millie will sit in the parlor with the volume turned all the way up thinking about nothing but what is happening currently in her life. Such as

While Montag is on the run from the government because of his possession of books and rebellion. He has to cross a huge highway with speeding cars to get away. While he is running he sees a cars headlights trained on him and he immediately thinks its the police coming after him. While trying to get away Montag becomes flustered and falls down and the car avoids hitting him. He realizes the people driving the car was not the police but some teenagers. Seeing a rare occurrence of a man walking down the road the teenagers thought nothing but lets hit him. Montag is in shock “they would have killed me… For no reason at all they would've killed me”(128) the kids have grown up with no value for human life, they do whatever pleases them at the moment, and don't know or care about the consequences that are affected by their choices. the government hold complete control of every citizen. Montag, still on the run is heading for the tree line to conceal himself, while the whole chase is being broadcasted to every person. on elm terrace. while on montag is making a run for it the announcer tells everybody on the count of ten to open up their doors and look for the wanted fugitive “‘police suggest entire population in the Elm Terrace area do as follows: Everyone in every street open a front or rear door or look from the windows. The fugitive cannot escape if everyone in the next minute looks from his house. Ready!’… the doors